Battery module

Abstract

The present invention provides a battery module comprising a plurality of submodules (or plurality of cell stacks) having a structure that can block the propagation of heat or flame between submodules (or between cell stacks), excellent cooling performance, and a multi-functional barrier assembly that can simultaneously achieve thermal insulation and refrigerant cooling effects. The battery module includes a first cell stack and a second cell stack, each consisting of a plurality of battery cells stacked on top of each other; a housing having an internal space that accommodates the first cell stack and the second cell stack; an insulating fluid configured to flow within the internal space of the housing; and a barrier assembly disposed between the first cell stack and the second cell stack, wherein the barrier assembly includes a thermal insulation cover configured to block heat propagation between the first cell stack and the second cell stack; and a heat dissipation member that comes into contact with the insulating fluid and is made of a material with higher thermal conductivity than the thermal insulation cover.

Description

【Technical Field】 【0001】 The present invention relates to a battery module. 【Background Art】 【0002】 A secondary battery can be charged and discharged, and is widely used in mobile devices such as digital cameras, mobile phones, and notebook computers. In particular, recently, it has attracted attention as an energy source for electric vehicles, energy storage systems (ESS), etc. 【0003】 In electric vehicles and energy storage systems, due to the requirement for high-capacity and high-output power, large-capacity battery devices such as battery modules and battery packs that house a large number of secondary batteries (battery cells) inside a housing are widely used. In particular, recently, a technology that constitutes a sub-module with a plurality of secondary batteries and assembles such sub-modules to form a large battery module has been utilized. 【0004】 In the case of a battery module composed of a plurality of sub-modules like this, when a large number of secondary batteries are arranged inside the battery module, there is a problem that high-temperature heat or flames generated in any one sub-module are rapidly propagated to other adjacent sub-modules. 【0005】 In addition, when a large number of secondary batteries are arranged inside the battery module, a structure that can cool the battery module quickly and effectively is required. 【Summary of the Invention】 【Problems to be Solved by the Invention】 【0006】 The present invention was devised to solve at least some of the problems of the prior art described above, and provides a battery module having a structure that can block the propagation of heat or flame between submodules (or cell stacks) in a battery module composed of a plurality of submodules (or a plurality of cell stacks). 【0007】 Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide a battery module having excellent cooling performance in a battery module composed of multiple submodules (or multiple cell stacks). 【0008】 Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide a battery module having a multi-functional barrier assembly that can simultaneously achieve thermal insulation between multiple submodules (or multiple cell stacks) and a cooling effect for a refrigerant. [Means for solving the problem] 【0009】 To achieve the above objectives, an embodiment provides a battery module comprising a first cell stack and a second cell stack, each having a plurality of battery cells stacked on top of each other; a housing having an internal space that accommodates the first cell stack and the second cell stack; an insulating fluid configured to flow in the internal space of the housing; and a barrier assembly disposed between the first cell stack and the second cell stack, wherein the barrier assembly includes a heat dissipation member that is in contact with the insulating fluid and is made of a material with higher thermal conductivity than the heat insulating cover, and is configured to block heat transfer between the first cell stack and the second cell stack. 【0010】 In the embodiment, the heat insulating cover includes a first heat insulating section and a second heat insulating section arranged along the direction in which the first cell laminate and the second cell laminate are arranged, and a heat dissipation member may be arranged between the first heat insulating section and the second heat insulating section. 【0011】 In this embodiment, the heat dissipation member has a plate-like structure, the first heat insulating portion covers at least a portion of the first surface of the heat dissipation member, and the second heat insulating portion can cover at least a portion of the second surface, which is the opposite surface of the first surface of the heat dissipation member. 【0012】 In the embodiment, the heat dissipation member may further include a plurality of guide grooves arranged on the first and second surfaces, respectively, to guide the flow direction of the insulating fluid. 【0013】 In this embodiment, at least one of the multiple guide grooves may be extended in a direction intersecting the stacking direction of the multiple battery cells. 【0014】 In this embodiment, the multiple guide grooves on the first surface at the end of the heat dissipation member can be connected to the multiple guide grooves on the second surface. 【0015】 In an embodiment, the insulation cover may further include one or more first openings located in the first insulation section and one or more second openings located in the second insulation section. 【0016】 In the embodiment, one or more first openings may be arranged opposite each other with at least a portion of one or more second openings and a heat dissipation member in between. 【0017】 In the embodiment, one or more first openings and one or more second openings may be provided in multiple quantities and arranged along the stacking direction of the multiple battery cells. 【0018】 In this embodiment, the end of the heat insulating cover may be provided with an insertion hole into which a heat dissipation member can be inserted. 【0019】 In an embodiment, the battery module may further include a first busbar assembly that electrically connects a plurality of battery cells of a first cell stack and is positioned opposite one side of a barrier assembly; and a second busbar assembly that electrically connects a plurality of battery cells of a second cell stack and is positioned opposite one side of a barrier assembly. 【0020】 In this embodiment, the heat insulating cover may be combined with the first busbar assembly and the second busbar assembly, respectively. 【0021】 In some embodiments, the heat-insulating cover may be made of an insulating material. 【0022】 In the embodiment, at least one of the first busbar assembly and the second busbar assembly may include a connection terminal that connects to one or more terminals exposed to the outside of the housing. 【0023】 In this embodiment, the first cell stack and the second cell stack may be arranged in the internal space of the housing along a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the multiple battery cells. [Effects of the Invention] 【0024】 According to the embodiment, the barrier assembly blocks the propagation of heat or flame between multiple submodules (or multiple cell stacks), thereby realizing a battery module with improved thermal runaway performance. 【0025】 Furthermore, according to this embodiment, since the refrigerant flowing into the housing directly cools the battery cells, a battery module with high cooling efficiency can be realized. 【0026】 Further, according to the embodiment, before the refrigerant that cools any one of the sub-modules (or the cell stack) flows into other sub-modules (or the cell stack), it is radiated and cooled through the barrier assembly, so that while the battery module can have excellent overall cooling performance, the temperature deviation of each part of the battery module can be reduced. 【0027】 Also, according to the embodiment, through the barrier assembly composed of a combination of the heat insulation cover and the heat radiating member, it is possible to simultaneously realize heat insulation between the components inside the battery module and the heat radiation effect of the refrigerant while having a simple structure. 【Brief Description of the Drawings】 【0028】 [Figure 1] It is a perspective view of the battery module. [Figure 2] It is an exploded perspective view of the battery module. [Figure 3] It is an exploded perspective view of the sub-module included in the battery module. [Figure 4] It is a perspective view of the barrier assembly. [Figure 5] It is an exploded perspective view of the barrier assembly. [Figure 6] It is an exploded perspective view of the barrier assembly seen from an angle different from that of FIG. 5. [Figure 7] It is an exemplary cross-sectional view according to the I-I' part of FIG. 4. [Figure 8] It is a reference diagram for explaining the combination of the sub-module and the barrier assembly. [Figure 9] It is a reference diagram for explaining the flow of the insulating fluid inside the battery module. [Figure 10] It is an exemplary cross-sectional view according to the II-II' part of FIG. 4. 【Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention】 【0029】 Prior to the detailed description of this application, terms and words used herein and in the claims should not be interpreted in a manner limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but rather in a manner consistent with the technical idea of ​​the invention, based on the principle that terms can be appropriately defined as concepts in order to best describe the invention. Accordingly, the embodiments described herein and the configurations illustrated in the drawings are merely the most preferred embodiments of the invention and do not represent the entire technical idea of ​​the invention, and it should be understood that, at the time of filing, there may be a variety of equivalents and modifications that can be substituted therefor. 【0030】 The same reference numerals or symbols in the drawings attached to this specification indicate parts or components that perform substantially the same function. For the sake of explanation and understanding, different embodiments may also be described using the same reference numerals or symbols. That is, even if multiple drawings illustrate components with the same reference numerals, not all of the drawings necessarily represent a single embodiment. 【0031】 In the following descriptions, singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Terms such as “contains” or “constitutes” are intended to specify the existence of features, figures, stages, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and should not be understood as preemptively excluding the existence or possibility of adding one or more different features, figures, stages, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof. 【0032】 Furthermore, in the following explanation, terms such as upper, top, lower, bottom, side, front, and rear are used based on the direction shown in the drawing, and it should be made clear beforehand that they may be used differently if the direction of the object in question is changed. 【0033】 Furthermore, in this specification and claims, terms including ordinal numbers, such as "first," "second," etc., may be used to distinguish between components. Such ordinal numbers are used to distinguish identical or similar components from one another, and the use of such ordinal numbers should not restrict the meaning of the terms. For example, components combined with such ordinal numbers should not be restricted in terms of their order of use or arrangement by the numbers. Where necessary, the ordinal numbers may be used alternately with each other. 【0034】 Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. However, the concept of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments presented. For example, a person skilled in the art who understands the concept of the present invention may propose other embodiments that fall within the scope of the concept of this application, such as by adding, changing, or deleting components. In the drawings, the shape and size of elements, etc., may be exaggerated for clearer explanation. 【0035】 Figure 1 is a perspective view of the battery module 10. 【0036】 Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the battery module 10. 【0037】 Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the submodule 100 included in the battery module 10. 【0038】 The battery module 10 according to this embodiment may include a plurality of submodules 100, each containing a plurality of battery cells 110, an insulating fluid for cooling the battery cells 110, and a housing 300 in which these are housed. 【0039】 In the following description, "battery module 10" is a general term for an energy storage device configured by electrically connecting multiple battery cells. That is, "battery module 10" in this disclosure can be understood not only as a battery module in the narrow sense, but also as various types of energy storage devices such as battery packs and energy storage systems (ESS). 【0040】 The battery module 10 can include multiple submodules 100. For example, referring to Figure 2, the battery module 10 can include a first submodule 100a and a second submodule 100b arranged side by side inside the housing 300. The first submodule 100a and the second submodule 100b can be assembled together to form at least a portion of a single battery module 10. 【0041】 Each submodule 100a, 100b may include multiple battery cells 110 and be configured to store or release electrical energy. 【0042】 Referring to Figure 3, any one of the submodules 100 may include a cell stack CS containing battery cells 110 stacked in one direction (e.g., in the X-axis direction), and a busbar assembly 130 electrically connected to the cell stack CS. The submodule 100 shown in Figure 3 may correspond to either the first submodule 100a or the second submodule 100b shown in Figure 2. 【0043】 The cell stack CS may include a plurality of battery cells 110 and one or more protective members 120 for protecting the battery cells 110. 【0044】 In a cell stack CS, multiple battery cells 110 can be stacked in one direction. In the following description, the stacking direction of the battery cells 110 included in the cell stack CS is referred to as the "cell stacking direction". 【0045】 At least one of the battery cells 110 in the cell stack CS may be a secondary battery capable of outputting or storing electrical energy. For example, the battery cell 110 may be a pouch-type secondary battery having a structure in which an electrode assembly is housed inside a flexible pouch. However, the battery cells 110 included in the cell stack CS are not limited to pouch-type secondary batteries. For example, the battery cell 110 may consist of a prismatic secondary battery in which an electrode assembly is housed inside a prismatic case having a predetermined rigidity, or a cylindrical secondary battery in which an electrode assembly is housed inside a cylindrical case. Alternatively, the battery cell 110 may consist of a bundle type in which multiple pouch-type secondary batteries are grouped together. 【0046】 The cell stack CS may further include a variety of protective members 120 for protecting the battery cells 110. For example, referring to Figure 3, the cell stack CS may include a variety of protective members 120 such as a cooling plate 121 for smoothly dissipating the thermal energy generated in the battery cells 110, and a compression pad 122 that can apply appropriate surface pressure to the battery cells 110 to prevent swelling. However, the protective members 120 are not limited to those shown in the drawings. For example, at least one of the multiple protective members 120 may be an insulating sheet (not shown) placed between multiple battery cells 110 to block heat transfer between the battery cells 110. 【0047】 Multiple battery cells 110 in a cell stack CS can be electrically connected to each other through a busbar assembly 130. The busbar assembly 130 may include multiple busbars 131 electrically connected to the battery cells 110 and a busbar frame 132 supporting the busbars 131. 【0048】 The busbar 131 may be made of a conductive material (e.g., copper) and serves to electrically connect multiple battery cells 110 to each other. The busbar 131 can be electrically connected to the battery cells 110 while fixed to the busbar frame 132. 【0049】 The busbar frame 132 can support the busbars 131 so that they are stably connected to the battery cells 110. The busbar frame 132 may include a non-conductive material (e.g., plastic) having a predetermined rigidity and structurally supports a plurality of busbars 131. 【0050】 The busbar assembly 130 may face at least one side of the cell stack CS. For example, referring to Figure 3, the busbar assembly 130 may be provided in pairs and positioned to face the cell stack CS in a direction perpendicular to the cell stacking direction (e.g., the Y-axis direction). 【0051】 The submodule 100 may further include a connection board 140 connected to a pair of busbar assemblies 130. The connection board 140 may have one end connected to one of the busbar assemblies 130 and the other to the other end, respectively. At least a portion of the connection board 140 may be made of a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB). This allows at least a portion of the connection board 140 to be positioned in a bent or folded state. 【0052】 Various sensing elements, such as a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the cell stack CS and a voltage sensor for sensing the voltage of the busbars, can be connected to the connection board 140. The information sensed by the sensing elements can be transmitted to a control unit {for example, a BMS (Battery Management System)} located inside or outside the battery module 10. 【0053】 However, the configurations shown in Figures 2 and 3 are merely illustrative examples of the submodule 100, and the submodule 100 included in the battery module 10 according to the embodiment may be configured differently from those shown in the drawings. That is, the submodule 100 is one of the components of the battery module 10, and refers to a single unit formed by the assembly of multiple battery cells 110, and its specific structure and shape may differ from those shown in Figures 2 and 3. 【0054】 For example, submodule 100 may also refer to the cell stacking structure itself, which is a collection of multiple battery cells 110. In this case, the battery module 10 may consist of a first submodule 100a and a second submodule 100b, which are cell stacking structures in which multiple battery cells 110 are stacked, and multiple components that electrically and structurally connect them. 【0055】 A single battery module 10 can be composed of multiple such submodules 100. For example, referring to Figure 2, a first submodule 100a having a first cell stack CSa and a second submodule 100b having a second cell stack CSb can be assembled together to form the entire battery module 10. In this case, the first submodule 100a and the second submodule 100b can be arranged along a direction perpendicular to the cell stacking direction (for example, the Y-axis direction). Hereinafter, the direction in which the first submodule 100a and the second submodule 100b are arranged will be referred to as the "longitudinal direction of the battery module 10". 【0056】 Multiple submodules 100 can be housed in the internal space S of the housing 300. The housing 300 may be made of a material with a predetermined rigidity to protect the multiple submodules 100 and other components housed in the internal space S from external impacts. For example, the housing 300 may be made of a metal material such as aluminum, iron, or stainless steel. 【0057】 As shown in Figure 2, the housing 300 may consist of a single, open monoframe. Through the open portions of the housing 300, the internal components of the battery module 10, including multiple submodules 100, can be housed inside the housing 300. 【0058】 Terminal terminals 310 for charging and discharging the first submodule 100a and the second submodule 100b may be located on the outside of the housing 300. The terminal terminals 310 are exposed to the outside of the housing 300 and may be electrically connected to the battery cells 110 of the first submodule 100a and the second submodule 100b through connection terminals 133 located on the busbar assembly 130 of the first submodule 100a and the second submodule 100b. For the connection between the terminal terminals 310 and the connection terminals 133 of the busbar assembly 130, connection holes may be provided in the portion of the housing 300 where the terminal terminals 310 are located. 【0059】 However, the specific structure of the housing 300 is not limited to that shown in the drawings, and any shape is possible as long as it has an internal space S capable of accommodating multiple submodules 100. For example, the housing may consist of a combination of a U-shaped lower frame, on which multiple submodules 100 are mounted and which is open at the top and both sides, and an upper cover that is combined with the top of the lower frame to cover the top surface of the submodules. Alternatively, the housing may consist of a combination of sub-housings, each of which accommodates a submodule individually. 【0060】 After multiple components, including multiple submodules 100, are housed inside the housing 300, the open portion of the housing 300 can be closed by end plates 400. For example, as shown in Figure 2, a pair of end plates 400 can be attached to both sides of the housing 300, which has an integrated monoframe structure, thereby closing the internal space S of the housing 300. 【0061】 A coolant can flow through the internal space S of the housing 300 to cool the battery cells 110. The coolant can be configured to flow through the internal space S of the housing 300 and directly cool the battery cells 110 in contact with them. In this case, the cooling performance can be significantly improved compared to conventional battery module structures in which the coolant flows through a separate heat sink structure located on one side of the cell stack to cool the battery cells. 【0062】 In this embodiment, since the refrigerant comes into direct contact with the battery cells 110 inside the housing 300, it is preferable that the refrigerant be composed of an insulating fluid that does not conduct electricity. An example of such an insulating fluid is insulating oil. However, the refrigerant can be any fluid that can have a cooling effect without electrically affecting electrical components such as the battery cells 110, in addition to insulating oil. Hereinafter, a refrigerant having such properties will be referred to as an "insulating fluid". 【0063】 The insulating fluid can be injected from outside the battery module 10 into the internal space S of the housing 300, circulate within the housing 300, and then discharged back outside the battery module 10. For example, referring to Figures 1 and 2, a pair of end plates 400 may be provided with an inlet 410 into which the insulating fluid can be injected and an outlet 420 into which the insulating fluid can be discharged. This allows the insulating fluid injected through the inlet 410 located on one side of the housing 300 to cool the battery cells 110 as it passes through a plurality of submodules 100, and then discharged to the outside of the housing 300 through the outlet 420 located on the other side of the housing 300. However, the inlet 410 and outlet 420 do not necessarily have to be located on the end plates 400, but may be located on the housing 300. 【0064】 Although not shown in detail in the drawings, a sealing member may be placed inside the end plate 400 to prevent insulating fluid from leaking between the housing 300 and the end plate 400. 【0065】 In this embodiment, multiple submodules 100 are housed inside a housing 300. In this case, it is necessary to block heat propagation between the submodules 100 to prevent thermal energy generated in one submodule (e.g., a first submodule 100a) from adversely affecting other adjacent submodules (e.g., a second submodule 100b). For example, in a structure in which multiple submodules 100 are assembled inside a housing 300, if thermal runaway occurs in one submodule, there is a risk that flame transfer may easily occur to other adjacent submodules. Therefore, it is necessary to appropriately block such heat and flame propagation. 【0066】 Furthermore, as the insulating fluid passes through multiple submodules 100, the temperature of the refrigerant gradually increases, which may cause temperature differences between the submodules. Therefore, a configuration is needed that can properly dissipate the thermal energy of the insulating fluid circulating inside the housing 300. 【0067】 For this purpose, the battery module 10 according to the embodiment may further include a barrier assembly 200 that is positioned between a plurality of submodules 100 and can perform all functions of blocking heat propagation and dissipating heat from the insulating fluid. 【0068】 The barrier assembly 200 may be configured to block heat transfer between submodules while simultaneously cooling the coolant passing through it. For example, referring to Figure 2, the barrier assembly 200 is positioned between the first submodule 100a and the second submodule 100b, thereby blocking the transfer of thermal energy generated in the first submodule 100a to the second submodule 100b. Alternatively, the barrier assembly 200 may be positioned opposite the side of the cell stacks CSa, CSb, i.e., one surface perpendicular to the cell stacking direction of the cell stacks CSa, CSb, but, with respect to the two cell stacks CSa, CSb, it is positioned between the two cell stacks CSa, CSb arranged in a row, thereby blocking heat transfer between the cell stacks. 【0069】 Furthermore, the barrier assembly 200 can be configured to allow the insulating fluid that has passed through the first submodule 100a to pass through, and while the insulating fluid is passing through, it can play a role in dissipating the thermal energy contained in the insulating fluid. 【0070】 To effectively facilitate heat transfer between submodules and cool the insulating fluid, the barrier assembly 200 may consist of a composite structure in which an insulating cover and heat dissipation members made of different materials are combined. 【0071】 The barrier assembly 200 will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 4 through 8. 【0072】 Figure 4 is a perspective view of the barrier assembly 200. 【0073】 Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the barrier assembly 200. 【0074】 Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the barrier assembly 200, viewed from a different angle than in Figure 5. 【0075】 Figure 7 is an exemplary cross-sectional view relating to the I-I' portion of Figure 4. 【0076】 Figure 8 is a reference diagram illustrating the combination of the submodule and the barrier assembly 200. 【0077】 The barrier assembly 200, submodule, and battery module described in Figures 4 to 8 include all the features of the barrier assembly 200, submodule 100, and battery module 10 described in Figures 1 to 3 above, so redundant explanations can be omitted. 【0078】 The barrier assembly 200 according to this embodiment may include an insulating cover 210 that can block heat transfer between submodules (100 in Figure 2) and a heat dissipation member 220 that can cool the insulating fluid. 【0079】 The insulating cover 210 is placed between the submodules 100 and can block the transfer of heat or flames generated in any one submodule (e.g., the first submodule 100a) to the adjacent submodule (e.g., the second submodule 100b). To this end, the insulating cover 210 may include materials that have heat resistance and insulating properties. For example, at least a portion of the insulating cover 210 may be made of a resin material or a non-conductive metal material that has good heat resistance even if it has low thermal conductivity. For even better insulating effect, at least a portion of the insulating cover 210 may include materials with high heat resistance and insulating properties such as mica, ceramic wool, or aerogel. However, the material of the insulating cover 210 is not limited to those mentioned above, and any material is possible as long as it does not structurally collapse even in the event of thermal runaway of a submodule and can prevent the propagation of heat or flames to the adjacent submodule. 【0080】 Referring to Figures 4 to 6, the thermal insulation cover 210 may be provided as a plate-like structure having an area corresponding to one side of a submodule (100 in Figures 2 and 3). One side of the thermal insulation cover 210 may face one of the submodules (e.g., the first submodule 100a), and the opposite side of that side may face another submodule (e.g., the second submodule 100b). One or more openings 213, 214 may be provided on the thermal insulation cover 210, through which insulating fluid flowing in one side region of the thermal insulation cover 210 can flow across the thermal insulation cover 210 to the other side region. 【0081】 The barrier assembly 200 according to this embodiment may further include a heat dissipation member 220 for cooling the insulating fluid. 【0082】 The heat dissipation member 220 may be positioned between a plurality of submodules 100 such that insulating fluid that has passed through any one submodule (e.g., the first submodule 100a) can come into contact with other submodules (e.g., the second submodule 100b) before flowing to them. The insulating fluid can dissipate heat and be cooled while in contact with the heat dissipation member 220. 【0083】 For effective heat dissipation of the insulating fluid, the heat dissipation member 220 may be made of a material with excellent thermal conductivity. For example, the heat dissipation member 220 may be made of aluminum, which has excellent thermal conductivity. However, the heat dissipation member 220 can be made of any other material that has higher thermal conductivity than the insulating cover 210, without limitation. 【0084】 The barrier assembly 200 may have a structure in which both sides of the heat dissipation member 220 are covered by an insulating cover 210 containing an insulating material. For example, the heat dissipation member 220 may be provided in a plate shape and placed inside the insulating cover 210, so that the insulating cover 210 can cover both sides of the heat dissipation member 220. 【0085】 More specifically, referring to Figures 5 and 6, the heat insulating cover 210 may include a first heat insulating section 211 and a second heat insulating section 212 formed at a predetermined interval between them, and the heat dissipation member 220 may be positioned between the first heat insulating section 211 and the second heat insulating section 212. Here, the first heat insulating section 211 of the heat insulating cover 210 may be the part facing the first submodule (100a in Figure 2), and the second heat insulating section 212 may be the part facing the second submodule (100b in Figure 2). The first heat insulating section 211 may cover at least a portion of the first surface of the heat dissipation member 220, and the second heat insulating section 212 may cover at least a portion of the second surface, which is the opposite surface of the first surface of the heat dissipation member 220. With such a structure, even if the heat dissipation member 220 is made of a metallic material, it is possible to prevent short circuits from occurring between the heat dissipation member 220 and the busbars of the submodule. 【0086】 The barrier assembly 200 may have a structure in which the heat dissipation member 220 is inserted into the interior of the heat insulating cover 210 on one side of the heat insulating cover 210 during assembly. For example, referring to Figure 6, an insertion hole 215 into which the heat dissipation member 220 can be inserted may be provided at one end of the heat insulating cover 210, and the heat dissipation member 220 may be inserted into the inside of the heat insulating cover 210 through the insertion hole 215 and positioned between the first heat insulating section 211 and the second heat insulating section 212. In the drawing, the insertion hole 215 is formed at the bottom of the heat insulating cover 210, but this is merely an example, and the insertion hole 215 may be formed on the side or top of the heat insulating cover 210. 【0087】 The heat dissipation member 220 inserted through the insertion hole 215 can be fixed in a sandwiched state between the first heat insulating section 211 and the second heat insulating section 212, as shown in Figure 7. However, contrary to what is shown in the drawings, the heat dissipation member 220 may be positioned at a predetermined distance from the first heat insulating section 211 or the second heat insulating section 212 if necessary. 【0088】 Referring again to Figures 4 to 6, the first insulation portion 211 and the second insulation portion 212 of the insulation cover 210 may be provided with a first opening 213 and a second opening 214 that communicate with the inner space of the insulation cover 210. The heat dissipation member 220, which is located inside the insulation cover 210, may be exposed to the outside of the insulation cover 210 through the first opening 213 and the second opening 214. 【0089】 As shown in Figures 4 to 6, multiple first openings 213 and second openings 214 may be provided in the first insulation section 211 and the second insulation section 212, respectively. In this case, at least some of the multiple first openings 213 and multiple second openings 214 may be located in the central region of the barrier assembly 200 in the height direction (e.g., Z-axis direction) from the insulation cover 210 and along the width direction (e.g., X-axis direction) of the barrier assembly 200. When a large number of first openings 213 and second openings 214 are provided, the first openings 213 and second openings 214 may be arranged in multiple rows along the width direction (e.g., X-axis direction) of the barrier assembly 200. 【0090】 In this case, the orientation of the multiple first openings 213 and the multiple second openings 214 may be aligned with the stacking direction of the battery cells 110 in the cell stack CS. With such an arrangement, the insulating fluid that has passed through each battery cell 110 can easily flow into the interior of the heat insulating cover 210 through the multiple openings 213 and 214 arranged in the cell stacking direction. 【0091】 However, the size, number, and location of the openings shown in the drawings are merely illustrative, and the specific structure of the openings can be varied and implemented in many ways. For example, the first opening 213 may be located only once in the central region of the first insulation section 211 and may have a rectangular hole structure with a long side that is longer in the width direction of the barrier assembly 200. 【0092】 The insulating fluid that flows into the inside of the heat-insulating cover 210 through the openings 213 and 214 flows along the surface of the heat-dissipating member 220, and in this process can be dissipated and cooled by the heat-dissipating member 220. 【0093】 The surface of the heat dissipation member 220 may be provided with guide grooves 221 and 222 that can guide the flow direction of the insulating fluid. For example, referring to Figures 5 and 6, the surface of the heat dissipation member 220 may have a plurality of guide grooves 221 and 222 that guide the insulating fluid that has flowed into the inside of the heat insulating cover 210 to flow along the height direction (e.g., the Z-axis direction) of the barrier assembly 200. 【0094】 The guide grooves 221 and 222 may be the valleys in the uneven structure of peaks and valleys formed on the surface of the heat dissipation member 220. 【0095】 The guide grooves 221 and 222 may be configured to extend in the height direction (Z-axis direction) of the barrier assembly 200, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. In this case, the height direction (Z-axis direction) of the barrier assembly 200 may be perpendicular to both the aforementioned cell stacking direction (e.g., X-axis direction) and the longitudinal direction (e.g., Y-axis direction) of the battery module 10. However, the shapes of the guide grooves 221 and 222 shown in the drawings are merely examples, and the specific structure of the guide grooves 221 and 222 can be modified in various ways. For example, to further increase the contact area with the insulating fluid, the guide grooves 221 and 222 may be configured to extend in a zigzag shape along the height direction (Z-axis direction) of the barrier assembly 200. 【0096】 Guide grooves 221 and 222 can be formed on both sides of the heat dissipation member 220. For example, in the heat dissipation member 220, the first guide groove 221 and the second guide groove 222 can be arranged on the first surface facing the first submodule (100a in Figure 2) and the second surface facing the second submodule (100b in Figure 2), respectively. 【0097】 The first guide groove 221 and the second guide groove 222 can be connected to each other at the end of the heat dissipation member 220. That is, the end of the first guide groove 221, which extends from the first surface of the heat dissipation member 220 along the height direction of the barrier assembly 200, is connected to the second guide groove 222 on the second surface from the end of the heat dissipation member 220. This allows the insulating fluid flowing along the first guide groove 221 on the first surface to flow smoothly across the heat dissipation member 220 through the second guide groove 222 on the second surface, and at the same time, a directional flow of coolant can be formed along the surface of the heat dissipation member 220. With such a guide structure, the insulating fluid that flows into the inside of the heat insulating cover 210 through the openings 213 and 214 is guided to flow smoothly upward or downward on the barrier assembly 200, thereby preventing the insulating fluid from stagnating in the vicinity of the barrier assembly 200. 【0098】 On the other hand, the barrier assembly 200 can be combined with submodules 100. For example, referring to Figure 8, one end of the insulation cover 210 of the barrier assembly 200 can be combined with the first busbar assembly 130a of the first submodule (100a in Figure 2), and the other end can be combined with the second busbar assembly 130b of the second submodule (100b in Figure 2). In this case, the insulation cover 210 can be made of an insulating material to prevent a short circuit from occurring between the insulation cover 210 of the barrier assembly 200 and the busbar 131. Alternatively, to further ensure prevention of short circuits, an additional insulating cover (not shown) made of an insulating material can be placed between the insulation cover 210 and the busbar assemblies 130a and 130b. 【0099】 The barrier assembly 200 can be combined with the busbar assemblies 130a and 130b in various ways. For example, as shown in Figure 8, the insulation cover 210 of the barrier assembly 200 may be provided with fastening flanges 216 for fastening to the busbar frames 132a and 132b of the busbar assemblies 130a and 130b, and fastening members 217 can be fastened to the fastening flanges 216 and the busbar frames 132a and 132b, thereby fixing the insulation cover 210 and the busbar frames 132a and 132b to each other. However, the method of connecting the insulation cover 210 and the busbar frames 132a and 132b is not limited to that shown in the drawings. For example, the insulation cover 210 and the busbar frames 132a and 132b may be combined in a mechanical fastening manner through the structure of protrusions and grooves into which the protrusions are inserted. 【0100】 Thus, since the barrier assembly 200 is combined with the busbar assemblies 130a and 130b of the submodules 100 located on both sides, it can perform the function of structurally connecting multiple submodules 100. This can increase the structural stability of the internal configuration of the housing 300, which is composed of multiple submodules 100. In addition, since the multiple submodules 100 can be housed inside the housing 300 in a stably combined state through the barrier assembly 200, the ease of assembling the battery module 10 can be increased. 【0101】 The following describes the flow of insulating fluid inside the battery module 10, with reference to Figures 9 and 10. 【0102】 Figure 9 is a reference diagram illustrating the flow of insulating fluid inside the battery module 10. 【0103】 Figure 10 is an exemplary cross-sectional view relating to the section II-II' of Figure 4. 【0104】 The battery module 10 described in Figures 9 and 10 includes all the features of the battery module 10 described in Figures 1 to 8 above, so redundant explanations can be omitted. 【0105】 In one embodiment, the battery module 10 may be configured such that an insulating fluid circulates inside the housing 300 and cools the battery cells 110 by directly contacting them. 【0106】 Referring to Figure 9, the insulating fluid may flow through the first submodule 100a housed inside the housing 300, come into contact with the battery cell 110 of the first submodule 100a to cool the battery cell 110, and then flow through the barrier assembly 200 to the second submodule 100b. 【0107】 The insulating fluid that absorbed thermal energy in the first submodule 100a flows along the heat dissipation member 220 of the barrier assembly 200, dissipates heat and cools through the heat dissipation member 220 which has high thermal conductivity, and can flow into the second submodule 100b at a lower temperature again. 【0108】 Thereafter, the insulating fluid cools the battery cells 110 of the second submodule 100b as it passes through the second submodule 100b, and can then be discharged to the outside of the battery module 10 through the outlet 420 of the housing 300. 【0109】 Refer to Figures 9 and 10 for a further explanation of the insulating fluid flow in the barrier assembly 200. 【0110】 The insulating fluid that has passed through the first submodule 100a can flow into the inside of the heat insulating cover 210 through the first opening 213 provided in the first heat insulating section 211. Inside the heat insulating cover 210, a heat dissipation member 220 is arranged to dissipate heat and cool the insulating fluid. 【0111】 In this configuration, the first opening 213 is positioned in the central region of the barrier assembly 200 in the height direction (Z-axis direction) from the first heat insulating portion 211, and the heat dissipation member 220 may include a first guide groove 221 that guides the insulating fluid flowing into the first opening 213 to flow in the height direction (Z-axis direction) of the barrier assembly 200. With such a structure, the insulating fluid can be guided to spread evenly along the surface of the heat dissipation member 220, compared to the case where the first opening 213 is positioned biased to one side in the height direction (Z-axis direction) of the barrier assembly 200. This has the advantage of further increasing the contact time and contact area between the insulating fluid and the heat dissipation member 220. 【0112】 The insulating fluid, having flowed up and down along the first guide groove 221, flows again along the second guide groove 222 toward the central region of the barrier assembly 200, exits the barrier assembly 200 through the second opening 214 of the second heat insulating section 212, and flows toward the second submodule 100b. Similar to the first opening 213, the second opening 214 may also be located in the central region of the barrier assembly 200 in the height direction (Z-axis direction) from the second heat insulating section 212. In this case, the first opening 213 may be located opposite each other with at least a portion of the second opening 214 in between, with a heat dissipation member in between. Thus, the insulating fluid that has flowed into the central region of the barrier assembly 200 can flow around the heat dissipation member 220 inside the barrier assembly 200 and then be discharged back into the central region of the barrier assembly 200. 【0113】 Thus, the barrier assembly 200 according to this embodiment is configured to allow sufficient contact between the insulating fluid and the surface of the heat dissipation member 220 while the insulating fluid flows from the first opening 213 to the second opening 214, thereby maximizing the contact area and contact time between the insulating fluid and the heat dissipation member 220, and effectively cooling the insulating fluid. Furthermore, the guide grooves 221 and 222 form a number of uneven surfaces on the surface of the heat dissipation member 220, which further maximizes the contact area between the insulating fluid and the heat dissipation member 220, thereby increasing the heat dissipation and cooling efficiency of the insulating fluid. 【0114】 As described above, according to the embodiment, a battery module 10 with excellent thermal stability can be realized by placing a barrier assembly 200 between the multiple submodules 100 that has both thermal insulation and refrigerant heat dissipation effects. 【0115】 The barrier assembly 200 has a composite barrier structure that combines an insulating cover 210 made of a material with insulating properties and a heat dissipation member 220 which has superior thermal conductivity compared to the insulating cover 210, and therefore can simultaneously provide both insulating and cooling effects for the refrigerant. 【0116】 In particular, in a "long module" structure in which multiple submodules 100 are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the battery module 10, the heat insulating cover 210 can effectively block heat propagation between the multiple submodules 100, preventing flames from transferring between the multiple submodules 100 and causing a chain reaction of ignition in the event of thermal runaway. 【0117】 Furthermore, the heat dissipation member 220, which is positioned together with the heat insulating cover 210, effectively cools the refrigerant between the multiple submodules 100, increasing the cooling performance of the battery module 10 while reducing the longitudinal temperature deviation of the battery module 10. As a result, in a battery module 10 having a cooling structure in which the insulating fluid directly cools the battery cells 110, the overall cooling efficiency of the battery module 10 can be increased. 【0118】 Furthermore, since the barrier assembly 200 is directly combined with multiple adjacent submodules 100, the structural stability of the battery module 10 can be increased by ensuring that the submodules remain stably combined with one another inside the housing 300. 【0119】 Although various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and it will be obvious to anyone with average knowledge of the art that various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention as described in the claims. Furthermore, some components of the above-described embodiments may be omitted, and each embodiment may be combined with one another. [Explanation of Symbols] 【0120】 10: Battery Module 100: Submodule 100a: First submodule 100b: Second submodule 110: Battery cell 120: Protective component 121: Cooling Plate 122: Compression pad 130: Busbar Assembly 130a: First busbar assembly 130b: Second busbar assembly 131: Bus bar 132, 132a, 132b: Busbar frame 133: Connection terminals 140: Connection board 200: Barrier Assembly 210: Insulation cover 211: First insulation section 212: Second insulation section 213: First opening 214: Second opening 215: Insertion Hole 216: Fastening flange 217: Fastening member 220: Heat dissipation component 221: First guide groove 222: Second guide groove 300: Housing 310: Terminal connector 400: End plate 410: Inlet 420: Outlet CS: Cell laminate CSa: First Cell Stack CSb: Second cell stack

Claims

[Claim 1] A first cell stack and a second cell stack, each consisting of multiple battery cells stacked on top of each other, A housing having an internal space in which the first cell stack and the second cell stack are housed, An insulating fluid configured to flow in the internal space of the housing, The barrier assembly is disposed between the first cell laminate and the second cell laminate, The barrier assembly is An insulating cover configured to block heat transfer between the first cell laminate and the second cell laminate, A battery module comprising: a heat dissipation member that comes into contact with the insulating fluid and contains a material with higher thermal conductivity than the insulating cover; and a battery module. [Claim 2] The heat insulating cover includes a first heat insulating portion and a second heat insulating portion arranged along the direction in which the first cell laminate and the second cell laminate are arranged, The heat dissipation member is disposed between the first heat insulating portion and the second heat insulating portion, as described in claim 1 of the battery module. [Claim 3] The heat dissipation member has a plate-like structure, The first heat insulating portion covers at least a portion of the first surface of the heat dissipation member, The battery module according to claim 2, wherein the second heat insulating portion covers at least a portion of the second surface which is the surface opposite to the first surface of the heat dissipation member. [Claim 4] The battery module according to claim 3, wherein the heat dissipation member further includes a plurality of guide grooves arranged on the first surface and the second surface, respectively, for guiding the flow direction of the insulating fluid. [Claim 5] The battery module according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the plurality of guide grooves extends in a direction intersecting the stacking direction of the plurality of battery cells. [Claim 6] The battery module according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of guide grooves on the first surface at the end of the heat dissipation member are connected to the plurality of guide grooves on the second surface. [Claim 7] The battery module according to claim 2, wherein the heat insulating cover further includes one or more first openings disposed in the first heat insulating portion and one or more second openings disposed in the second heat insulating portion. [Claim 8] The battery module according to claim 7, wherein the one or more first openings are arranged opposite each other with at least a portion of the one or more second openings and the heat dissipation member in between. [Claim 9] The battery module according to claim 7, wherein the one or more first openings and the one or more second openings are each provided in multiple numbers and arranged along the stacking direction of the plurality of battery cells. [Claim 10] The battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the end of the heat insulating cover is provided with an insertion hole into which the heat dissipation member can be inserted. [Claim 11] A first busbar assembly is provided which multiple battery cells of the first cell stack are electrically connected and which is positioned opposite one side of the barrier assembly, The battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising: a second busbar assembly that electrically connects a plurality of battery cells of the second cell stack and is positioned opposite to the opposite side of the one side of the barrier assembly. [Claim 12] The battery module according to claim 11, wherein the heat insulating cover is combined with the first busbar assembly and the second busbar assembly, respectively. [Claim 13] The battery module according to claim 11, wherein the heat insulating cover is made of an insulating material. [Claim 14] The battery module according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the first busbar assembly and the second busbar assembly includes a connection terminal that is connected to one or more terminals exposed to the outside of the housing. [Claim 15] The battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first cell stack and the second cell stack are arranged in the internal space of the housing along a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the plurality of battery cells.

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